ORCI set to begin major cancer surgery

DODOMA: THE Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) is set to begin major cancer surgery in October, ending the need for patients requiring specialised cancer operations to be referred to other major hospitals before returning to the institute for further treatment.

The development is expected to strengthen ORCI’s capacity to provide comprehensive cancer treatment under one roof and position Tanzania as a regional centre for specialised cancer care.

Previously, cancer patients requiring major surgery at ORCI had to be referred to other major hospitals, including Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), Bugando Medical Centre and Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC), for operations before being referred back to ORCI for radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

ORCI Executive Director Dr Diwani Msemo announced the development on Wednesday in Dodoma while briefing journalists on government investments aimed at transforming and strengthening cancer services in the country.

He said the major cancer surgery services would begin after completion of new operating theatres, adding that seven specialist surgeons had already returned to the country after completing their studies, while four others were still undergoing training.

“Seven specialist surgeons have returned to the country after completing their studies, while four other specialists are still undergoing training,” Dr Msemo said.

He said the availability of major cancer surgery at ORCI would reduce referrals, improve continuity of care and make it easier for patients to receive different stages of treatment at one specialised cancer institution.

The development is part of major government investment in cancer services involving new oncology facilities, advanced radiotherapy and diagnostic equipment, specialist training and digital systems aimed at increasing treatment capacity and reducing patients’ waiting time.

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Among the major investments is a PET Scan installed at ORCI, which enables specialists to detect cancer and determine whether the disease has spread to other parts of the body.

Dr Msemo said Tanzania had become the first country in East and Central Africa to acquire the technology.

“I urge citizens to develop a culture of going for regular health check-ups because cancer is treatable like other diseases,” he said.

The institute has also completed installation of a Linear Accelerator worth 7.3bn/-, which is already providing conventional, specialised and highly specialised radiotherapy services.

It has further procured two Cobalt machines valued at 1.4bn/-, which Dr Msemo said would significantly increase radiotherapy capacity once operational.

The investments are expected to help ORCI reduce the waiting period for radiotherapy treatment to about two weeks.

Meanwhile, construction of the Mbeya Cancer Centre, valued at 11bn/-, has reached 57 per cent and is expected to be completed in January next year, with services scheduled to begin in July 2027.

The centre will serve patients from Mbeya and the Southern Highlands, as well as neighbouring Zambia, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

ORCI is also constructing a Multipurpose Oncology Building in Dar es Salaam at a cost of 5.9bn/-. The project is 65 per cent complete and is expected to be completed in December.

The building will include special-status wards, chemotherapy areas, cancer clinics, laboratories, pharmacy services, an international lounge and specialists’ offices.

Dr Msemo said ORCI had also installed an ELEKTA Harmony radiotherapy machine capable of accurately targeting tumours while protecting surrounding healthy tissues.

Two mammography machines worth 1.1bn/- have arrived in the country and are being installed, while a SPECT machine worth 1.5bn/- has been acquired to improve diagnostic services.

He said preparations were also underway to establish cancer centres in Mtwara, Kigoma and Arusha to bring specialised services closer to patients.

Dr Msemo said the mobile ‘Tiba Mkoba’ early-detection campaign had reached 15 regions and screened more than 200,000 people.

The investments, he said, would increase early cancer detection, reduce referrals abroad and to other hospitals, shorten treatment waiting times and attract more patients from neighbouring countries.